COEUR d’ALENE— Kimberly Taylor is a local single mother with four children and also takes care of her elderly mother. 

She works nights as a CNA and has had to walk and borrow rides to get to and from work. 

After sharing her story to others and praying for assistance, Taylor received a blue Chevrolet Suburban, entirely for free, during the Single Moms Celebration on Saturday in the Jacklin Building at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. 

“I am stunned right now; words can’t express what I feel,” she said.

Taylor has been attending the single mothers event, hosted by The Heart Coeur d’Alene, for several years now. It has become an event she cherishes.

“Every year I look forward to coming here. This little gesture for single moms is uplifting and encouraging every time I come,” she said.

The Heart church vowed to help Taylor as much as possible with the new vehicle. They also gave her a set of snow tires and several gas cards to help ease the financial burden.  

In Idaho, single mothers account for around 10% of households, resulting in around 55,000 single mother households in the state. They work two jobs, they cook all of the meals, they drive the kids to practices, recitals, and rehearsals. They shop for groceries, back-to-school clothes, cleats, ballet slippers, and Christmas presents.

“They are an underserved community that can feel a certain way about church. We want to break down walls, we want to serve them as a community,” The Heart Pastor Seth Owens said.

The event was sponsored by Onyx and Oak Homes, Northwest Specialty Hospital, and Country Boy Cafe. Sun City Church and several other local businesses donated their time and products for the event.  

“This isn’t a church getting together, this is about a community getting together,” said Logan Zandhuisen, outreach pastor at The Heart.

Mothers who attended the event were able to receive toiletry bags, gas cards, tools, rental assistance, childcare, car washing and detailing, a free lunch, and had access to an entire boutique of clothes, all for free. 

“I feel blessed. I got groceries, I got clothes, each thing is one less stress so I can focus on my kids more,” said Kim Wright, a mother who attended the event. 

Around 700 mothers, and 2,500 in all, were estimated to have attended the three-hour event.

Alexis Schuitt had attended the event before as a mother but wanted to pay it forward to others and volunteered for it this year. 

“It's really rewarding. I know how impactful it is to be loved on. I look at how my life has changed, and it feels good to pour back in,” Schuitt said.

As Mother’s Day approaches next Sunday, some mothers feel isolated or won’t be able to take the time to be celebrated, which is why this event is said to mean so much to so many. 

“It gives you hope and helps you not feel alone. It’s nice, everything, I think it makes you feel good and appreciated,” said Chelsea Watts, a local mother.

The Heart holds more events geared toward aiding single mothers and families. In August they will hold a back-to-school giveaway, and during December they will host a free Christmas photo event. 

Info: theheart.online

    Chelsea Watts and her two children Teagan and Brooks had a great time at the Single Moms Celebration
  

    Volunteers wash cars for local single mothers.
  

    Volunteers clean and detail the inside of local single mothers' cars.